Edmonton Oilers prospect update: Expectations for the upcoming 2025–26 season

The Edmonton Oilers are officially set to begin training camp September 17. Other leagues like the AHL and the ECHL are soon to follow, but some leagues around the world have already started. This means some Oilers prospects in Europe and Russia are already playing regular season games.

There are a large amount of Oilers prospects still attending Oilers rookie camps, and have yet to report to their regular team.

It has been a busy first week in hockey. Let’s take a look.

Welcome to the TOR Edmonton Oilers prospect update. Each week, we’ll take a dive into how the Oilers’ prospects have done in their respective leagues to go along with a feature one one standout prospect in Edmonton’s system. We have defined a prospect as a skater who has played fewer than 65 NHL games, and is born 2001 or earlier.

To be or not to be (an Oiler): Maxim Beryozkin, KHL

Beryozkin has real NHL potential, and came in as the third best prospect in the Oilers system. Oilers management also saw this potential, and made reported efforts to get him signed. That being said the 6’4” forward chose to re-sign with his KHL team, Lokomotiv Yarlslavl this past offseason.

Beryozkin is now entering a make or break season this year in the KHL, because if he can’t build off of last year’s success there’s a possibility that NHL interest evaporates.

Come October 12, Beryozkin will be 24-years-old, and remains one of the older prospects in their pipeline, which makes the 2025–26 campaign even more make or break for him.

Beryozkin has a power-forward’s skill set, but has shown some real growth in playmaking. His game is largely defined by his puck skills, compete level, and quality physicality.

The 2001-born forward is joined by longtime NHL bench boss, Bob Hartley, which will ideally unlock even more elements to his game.

Edmonton Oilers prospect updates

AHL

• The majority of the Oilers prospect pool will be playing in the American hockey league this season. Including the likes of recent signees: Josh Samanski, Roby Jarventie, Viljami Marjala, Quinn Hutson.
• Other notable names entering their first full season with include Beau Akey, Samuel Jonsson, Connor Clattenburg, and Brady Stonehouse.

ECHL

• No official roster movements to the ECHL have been made yet, but expect one to two of the Oilers prospect goaltenders to be assigned to Fort Wayne.

Europe

• 2024 second rounder, Eemil Vinni has started his season with JoKP in the Mestis league. This is a move up to second tier Finnish hockey. After Vinni’s injury concerns last season expect his development to get back on track.
• 2024 sixth rounder Albin Sundin looks to make a full time jump to the SHL this season and Timira IK out of camp, so that’s a good sign. He appeared in his first game of the season on the 13 against Leksands IF in a 3–2 loss.
• Czechia forward Petr Hausr also looks to make the full time jump to Cechia’s top league this season. He has also made Czechia’s HC Vitkovice out of training camp. He appeared in four games this past week, finding the scoresheet with a single assist.

NCAA

• Expect most NCAA teams to start up in late September to early October. The Oilers have five prospects appearing in College hockey this year: Aiden Park, Bauer Berry, Asher Barnett, Dalyn Wakely, and Paul Fischer.

OHL

• The Edmonton Oilers have one prospect in the OHL this year, London Knights forward William Nicholl. Although he recently underwent an upper body surgery that will see him out of action for four to sixth months. This could be his real breakout season too.

WHL

• The Oilers have prospects in the Western Hockey League again. The WHL regular season starts up September 19. Expect 2025 third rounder Tommy Lafreniere to appear with the Kamloops Blazers. 2025 fourth rounder, David Lewandowski, will likely appear with the Saskatoon Blades.

Russia

• Nikita Yevseyev has had an explosive start to his year, appearing with his new club Amur Khabarovsk. He has already outproduced his entire point production from last season with three points across his first four games.
• One of the Oilers top prospects, Maxim Beryozkin has returned to the KHL this year. He’s off to a good start in all three zones while also remaining disciplined. The big Russian has posted two assists across five games.

Forwards